I would say that if anything is consistent about VN it is his adamantine rejection of all isms .... I would regard this as the only acceptable position of a true artist, but I have to say that it is also elitist, proud and self-sufficient. I find these things admirable. I would also suggest that literary theory means very little to genuine practitioners; and the same goes for truly great practitioners in any field. Theory is for observers and teachers, not for doers.
Charles
From Carolyn to Charles,
Something here disturbs me - - most likely the cult worship of the true artist, that whiff of Ayn Rand, if you'll allow me. You seem to be describing her more than the VN I know. His was an aristocracy that didn't condescend to democracy, but embraced it wholeheartedly. Who after all was the "true artist" - - Lolita? or Humbert? I often think VN doesn't think very highly of artists as a class of humanity.
Since I mentioned Roman Jakobson in my last post, let me stand up for Formalism, which I doubt VN rejected - - or am I mistaken?
By the way, not to forget that VN was as much observer, scholar, scientist and teacher as anything else.
Carolyn